This is the first chapter in my Shattered~Insanity story. For right now it's in Alfred's (America's) pov, but it'll change later on. Rated T for violence and mild swearing. Please enjoy and review!
(Friday) Alfred
"Kick him! Do it!"
"Bash in his head!"
"Get him!"
The taunting calls of the people surrounding me don't faze me - I won't let them. Even as another punch knocks me to the ground, I refuse to lose hope. I stand up shakily and wipe blood away from my split lip. "Think you're so tough, huh?" I ask. "I'm just going easy on you." My opponent, Bill-something-or-other, glares at me. I have to admit I'm surprised. It's so rare to find someone who can hold his own against me.
"You're going easy on me, are you?" Bill sneers. Before I can move, he punches me in the gut. As I double over, he elbows the back of my head, which sends me sprawling on the ground. I gasp as pain shoots through my body. He steps on my back, digging his foot into my spine. "You're going easy on me, are you?" He repeats, stomping my back. I am stunned - how is he so strong? And why can't I even hit him?! I squirm beneath his weight, but he is relentless. He kicks me in my side, on my back and chest, anywhere he can possibly reach. "I'll show you who's the real tough guy here." He says with an evil grin. And then, here it comes. I watch though the pain-filled haze as his foot lifts into the air, ready to smash down onto my skull. I grit my teeth and prepare for the worst.
"Yeah, yeah! Get him! Go for it!" The crowd is seething with bloodlust.
"Stop!" A frantic voice screams. The crowd falls silent for once. Bill's foot smashes into the ground just inches away from my head. I squint and see familiar Nikes running up to Bill and I. Arthur. "Knock it off. Stop right now." Arthur repeats. His tone is firm, commanding. Just as the Student Council President's voice should be. I imagine the look on his face to be one of steely disdain.
"Are you going to make me, Mr. President?" Bill mocks. "What are you going to do? Give me ISS? Ooh, I'm terrified." He spits, then, and it lands on my cheek. The crowd laughs. I don't think I've ever felt so humiliated.
"Yes, I will, Mr. Obyroclking." Arthur says. He's tone is firm - he sounds like a teacher. Surely he knows that won't ever work - Bill Obyro-whatever doesn't ever listen to teachers.
"Give me ISS, then." Bill shoves Arthur. Arthur stumbles a little. "Go ahead and give me ISS, cause we all know you ain't strong enough to beat me in a real fight." The crowd's laughter increases. They know it's true, too. Bill shoves Arthur again, harder this time. I watch Arthur's feet trip over themselves in an attempt to remain upright.
"I'm not going to do that." I imagine Arthur rolling his eyes. " I came here to prevent a fight, not to give in to your stupid jeering and start another fight." Bill doesn't respond, so Arthur continues. "Honestly, people like you disgust me. You're pathetic, Mr. Obyrockling. So if I were you, I'd just -" His voice trails off, and I see a blur as Bill's foot smashes into my face, grazing my temple. I yelp loudly in pain. Tears come to my eyes. I force them back and swallow.
"Leave us alone, Prez." Bill kicks me on my shoulder, causing me to roll and face them. "Good old Ally and I weren't done talki-" His voice fades to a grunt. The crowd gasps as Arthur's fist collides with Bill's fat stomach. Arthur punches him again in the stomach, and once more in the chest. He is deliberate, never hitting the face, but going after all the other vulnerable areas. Bill staggers and nearly falls into the crowd, but Arthur pulls him back by his shirt and kicks him in the knees. There is a large popping sound as one of Bill's knees pops out of place. Bill yells in pain and collapses on the ground next to me. Arthur digs his knee into Bill's back and grabs his shoulder, forcing it back at a painful angle.
"Mr. Obyrockling," Arthur hisses. " leave Alfred alone." His voice goes deathly quiet. "I'll break your bloody arm right here and now if you don't." Bill whimpers a little and nods as best he can. Arthur releases him. Bill stands up. His friends grab him and he hobbles away, shooting one final nasty look at me. There's still a bit of a crowd around us, whispers buzzing, they are awed over what just happened. Arthur waves his hand. "Go away." He says flatly. The crowd scatters instantly. Once they leave, Arthur holds his hand out to me. I take it reluctantly, wincing as I stand up. He hands me my backpack, which was lying a few feet away from me.
"Ow..." I mutter, trying to ease the soreness out of my shoulder. I don't look at him. I can't bear to face the humiliation of it all.
"Al." Arthur says. "Are you alright? You should probably go to the nurse." He sounds concerned, but I don't care. I'm too furious. It should have been me standing over Bill's crumpled form- not Arthur. I scowl and start to walk away. Arthur follows. "Al!" Arthur repeats. "You're bleeding. You should at least go let the nurse look over you!"
"No." I say angrily.
"Why? What's wrong?" Arthur asks, finally getting just how mad I am.
"What's wrong? I just got the crap beat out of me in front of the entire school, that's what's wrong!" I turn to him. "Then, to make matters worse, I have to have freaking sissy boy President of Student Council come and bail me out!" It hurts to yell, but I don't care. I'm furious and someone needs to take the blame.
"I know you're upset, but shouting won't help matters." Arthur's voice is measured. He is choosing to ignore the comment I made about him. "You should still see the nurse. One of your ribs could possibly be broken." He starts to stay something else but I stop him.
"I don't care!" I say, clenching my fists. "We aren't friends, okay? Just because you and your crazy mom helped me and Mattie out last summer doesn't automatically make us best friends! In fact, after some of that psycho crap she pulled, you're lucky I'm even talking to you right now, freak! We aren't friends, so just leave me alone!"
"Leave my mum out of this. I already told you I was sorry." Arthur's voice is less controlled; I can hear anger creeping on the edges of his tone. "I know it worried you and I know she was acting weird, but…" He falters. His green eyes narrow slightly. "But I already apologized. More then once. And it's stupid that I even have to apologize for the things my mum does. She can't... she can't help it. If you want to keep bringing it up like it's some horrible awful thing then I will seriously have to..."
"What? Are you going to hurt me?" I ask. I laugh. "Too late. Someone already did that. Many times, actually. And your mom is crazy. If she can't help it, then she needs to be locked up. No joke." I am walking away again. Judging by how light it is outside, it's nearing five-o-clock. I have to get home. Knowing Matthew, he might start worrying. He does that a lot.
"Hey!" Arthur yells after me. I ignore him and continue to walk. "Hey!" He yells louder. I walk faster. "Even though your family is a little messed up, it doesn't give you the excuse to act like a complete arse!" A little messed up? Did he really just say that?! I turn a little and flip him off. "You know, I almost wish he had stepped on your head!" He sounds angry now.
"Good for you!" I call over my shoulder. Then I tug out my Ipod from its pocket in my backpack and put my headphones over my head, drowning out whatever he might have to say next.
I arrive home and, sure enough, find Matthew pacing the house nervously. "Knock it off. I'm home." I say, tossing my backpack in a random corner. Then I kick off my shoes and toss them too. A few more things won't make any difference to the dirty, cluttered building we call home. I collapse on the sofa. Everything hurts. Matthew silently hands me a couple ice packs.
"Sorry." He says, sitting next to me. "It's just...you said you'd be back by four and..." He trails off, his eyes flicking over to look at me. I nod and feel a pang of guilt. I know Matthew is scared that someday I won't ever come home, just like mom and dad. The only difference between the two was that mom had died in a car crash when we were ten. Our wonderful father had gotten himself picked up by the police a year and a half ago for drug trafficking. That was when we went to stay with Arthur, because at the time I thought I couldn't handle taking care of a house and everything else by myself. I know I pretty much told Arthur that I didn't care that he had took us in, but I'm actually glad that Arthur helped us out. His mom is just...freaky. She's seriously messed up. And if she's so messed up - I think the doctors called it schizophrenia or something like it - then couldn't Arthur be messed up too? He is her son, after all. And anyway, Matthew doesn't need to be hanging out with people like that. "Al?" Matthew's voice breaks me out of my thoughts. I put one of the icepacks on my face, and the other goes on my chest.
"I'm okay." I say, even though I'm in a lot of pain. Matthew's head goes up and down.
"What happened?" He asks, though judging by the look on his face he already has a good guess.
"Got in a fight." I mumble, sinking further into the couch. I can feel my anger fading away, just like it always does whenever I'm around Matthew. I have to put on a positive face to save us both.
"H-How..." He trails off again. He's been doing that a lot lately too. "Are you alright?"
"Of course. I just said I'm okay, didn't I?" I finally find a comfortable position on the couch. My eyes flutter shut and I sigh in relief.
"Yeah. But, um...you do know you're face is bleeding, don't you? It's bleeding really badly." There is a trace of fear in his voice. "Do you want me to get you a washcloth or something?"
"Nah. I'm fine. Head wounds bleed a lot." I touch my face. There is a ragged wound right above my temple, probably from when Bill kicked my face. "Besides, maybe if we don't mess with it, it'll leave a cool scar, huh?" I force a smile on my face.
"Or a bad infection." Matthew smiles a little, but warily.
"Rght. So we'll just have to wait and see what happens." I snicker.
"I guess." Matthew laughs softly. "But if you wake up one morning and you see that it's yellow, don't blame me." He smiles.
"I won't. Don't worry." I pick up the remote off of it's spot on the ground - we don't have a coffee table since Dad sold it - and flick on the small TV. Static and blurry colors show up on it. "Now, lets see what Bunny Ears can do for us." I say. Matthew laughs again and goes to adjust the antennae.
Well, first chapter was really short (Sorry!) and a little boring. The incident will be explained in due time, and chapter two should come out shortly!